Arkansas County officials were presented with reproductions of the original land office plat maps containing both Stuttgart and DeWitt Thursday. The maps were drawn from the field notes of the survey of the Louisiana Purchase which began in the fall of 1815 and continued until the mid-1850s.

The plats given reference surveys as early as 1815 and were certified in 1853. The depict the area's natural landscapes, cultivated fields and established roads used during the period. They are titled “Township 2 South, Range 5 West” and “Township 5 South, Range 3 West.” Both contain the present day county seats and courthouses.

Commissioner of State Lands John Thurston presented the historic maps. “It is my desire that our office continues to do its part in preserving the past so that our children and grandchildren can learn about Arkansas's land history,” he said.

Arkansas County Judge Glenn “Sonny” Cox said the framed maps would be showcased in the courthouses, with one hanging in each.

“These will cause a lot of conversation,” he said, stating they would be hung in the hallway were the public can view them. “We will find a good place for them.”